Participate to help fight crime

Recently, Monroe Police Chief Quentin Holmes gave a 2012 crime report for the city of Monroe. He reported that crime has decreased in the city 5.06 percent from last year.

I am proud of the success the police department had in 2012 and encourage them to continue the good work. A safe community is important for retaining business and attracting new businesses to our community.

However, this report was an internal analysis of crime in our city. While this makes us feel good locally, there was no comparison of data with cities of a similar size as Monroe. Anyone searching the Internet will find information rating Monroe as a high-crime area. People wanting to move to Monroe see this and are concerned about living and raising a family here.

Also, there is a perception locally in our community that crime is on the increase and that Monroe is not as safe it could be. Perception for most is reality.

The voters I have talked to do not care much about crime reports, nor do they care about crime statistics. They ask me if their homes are likely to be invaded by armed robbers as happened in my district in 2012. They also ask if it's safe to go for a walk without having their purse stolen or if it's safe to walk from their car into a restaurant without being assaulted with a hammer as happened in my district in December.

I will be hosting a town hall meeting on crime at 5 p.m. Sunday at Neville High School. All who are concerned can learn what we can do in our neighborhoods to reduce crime. Please consider taking the lead to help organize a neighborhood watch in your area. Neighborhood watches are a start, and we will tell you how to be effective in your neighborhood to make us safer.

Dr. Raymond Armstrong

City councilman, District 1

Monroe

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Participate to help fight crime

Recently, Monroe Police Chief Quentin Holmes gave a 2012 crime report for the city of Monroe. He reported that crime has decreased in the city 5.06 percent from last year.I am proud of the success